Scene in Manchester: First to email gets Fun Pass

I received a nice little package from Dan Fortin at Breathe New Hampshire last week. Inside was the nonprofit's 2013 Fun Pass. I had never heard of the Fun Pass, but now I think anyone who has kids should buy one. For $30, the Fun Pass provides $1,500 in discounts at children's attractions all over New England, including amusement parks, zoos, ski resorts, museums and more.

.Most of the Fun Pass coupons will get you one free or discounted child admission with one paid adult admission during 2013. Like any deal, these come with restrictions and fine print, but the B.O.G.O deal for Storyland alone pays for the price of the Fun Pass...It's going to be a long summer and the Fun Pass is a great bucket list of things to do with the kids, and may even introduce you to some attractions you didn't know existed. I had never heard of Chuckster's Family Fun Park in Chichester or Battleship Cove in Fall River, Mass...The funds raised through Fun Pass sales help Breathe NH fulfill its mission to eliminate lung disease and improve the quality of life for those living with lung disease in the Granite State.

I certainly want to help the mission, and will be purchasing my own Fun Pass. That means I have one to give away to the first reader who emails me after this column is printed...If you would like my Fun Pass, shoot me an email at scene@unionleader.com. In full disclosure, it is a little mangled from some time in my diaper bag/briefcase. But, I promise all the coupons are still there...To purchase your own Fun Pass, visit www.breathenh.org or call 669-2411.

One man's trash

I love yard sale season. It's the time of year to get rid of all the old junk in my house and fill it up with other people's old junk. My husband and I recently hauled a basement full of our old junk over to 934 Lake Shore Road to donate to the annual Amoskeag Community Volunteers yard sale. This two-day event is this weekend, Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m...I will be working at the yard sale with other members of our club to raise money for the many causes we support each year, including Easter Seals Seniors Count program and Roca Kidz Club. We also use the money to give a little support to families and individuals who we find out may need some assistance with bills, college expenses, or even a Christmas tree. It's a very special feeling to help someone when they are not expecting it...Amoskeag Community Volunteers is a member of the General Federation of Women's Clubs. As far as nonprofits go, we are very small but we really enjoy the fellowship of the club and providing the little help that we can...We would love your help through a donation to or purchase from our yard sale. If you have any questions, please call 623-8438.

Be Welliot

I finally had an opportunity to use some services at the Elliot at River's Edge, and I really liked the one-stop shopping. I was able to see a doctor, get X-rays, and blood work all in the same building. And since there is one computer system, the X-ray and lab technicians knew I was coming. I love technology...I was also surprised to see that the cleverly named "Welliot" fitness center is open to the public. The cost to use the gym, which can be seen glowing from the circular drive outside the building's main entrance, is $35 a month. Members have access to treadmills, bicycles, elliptical machines, and a full-body Nautilus strength training circuit. Certified fitness staff are on hand to help and offer a few 30-minute classes...With hours of Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., the Welliot definitely caters to a demographic of retirees. And members who are 50 or older also get access to the Elliot Senior Health Fitness Center on Webster Street...But there are additional classes for all ages available at the Welliot for both members and non-members. Most are fee-based and start new eight-week sessions this week. Visit www.elliothospital.org or call 663-4200 for information...NH365.ORG Event of the Week

The Manchester City Library is kicking off its summer reading program with an Ice Cream Social and Touch-a-Truck event this Saturday on the library's lawn and parking lot. From 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., children will be welcome to explore trucks from the Manchester Highway Department and enjoy ice cream provided by the Puritan Backroom. There will also be life-size checkers and Connect 4 games courtesy of the Giant Game Company...For more information on this and other fun things to do in and around the Queen City, be sure to visit www.NH365.org. You can also sign for a weekly Top 10 Things to Do in the Granite State newsletter at www.NewHampshire.com....

If you have an interesting item for Scene in Manchester, write to Scene@UnionLeader.com...